This month we're excited to introduce you to another brand new partner doing great work in Education Therapy in southern California, Kim Girard. Kim is

a college transition coach, author, youth speaker, and personal growth junkie. She is passionate about helping teens and young adults get the most out of their college experience and live extraordinary lives.

With an understanding that college is much more than a formal education, Kim helps students clarify the results they are seeking.She works with students all over the country via phone or video chat to stay on track academically, learn to better advocate for themselves, balance work and social experiences, and stretch out of their comfort zone.

The students she works with are more confident, passionate, and better prepared for the future.Her philosophy is simple:When you marry your gifts to your passion, you are unstoppable.She is on a mission to create unstoppable adults, one student at a time.

Meet Rickey Smith, social entrepreneur and owner of the sustainable food business Urban Green. He's started a community education venture called the Urban Green Kids Row program, creating opportunities for kids from diverse backgrounds to participate in many activities related to food sustainability, from planting seeds to learning about how organic food is grown and harvested. For more info on a terrific

community service and volunteering opportunity for kids, email Rickey,

At Academic Success we take great pride in finding the right coach to support the unique needs of each student we help. Please check out the areas where we work on our web site and let us know how we can support you.

Looking for a College Counselor or Ed Therapist?

We work and partner with excellent Educational Therapists and College Counselors throughout the L.A. area. Give us a call and we can recommend the right fit for your child.

310-823-4398

Welcome To Our Summer Edition!

Even as millions of kids enjoy their summer break, untold numbers of parents are struggling with an increasingly difficult choice: whether or not to send their child to a charter school.

What started out as a positive educational development has turned into a minefield. Not only does the debate rage on about the efficacy of charters, but even our political leaders are confused about the difference between a public school and a charter.

In this month's issue, we'll seek to clarify and compare these two education options for our children. We'll zero in on what's most important, namely just how charters are performing relative to conventional public schools. Finally, we'll move beyond the heat of the debate and attempt to provide a broader perspective, by placing a rational focus on the pros and cons of both the public and charter institution.

At
Academic Success, keeping parents fully informed on every issue pertinent to their kids' long-term success is an essential part of our mission.

Please call with any questions at (310) 823 4398 or

All the best,

The Academic Success Team

"There are three constants in life: change, choice and principles." "

- Stephen Covey

NBC's Latest Hit Takes A Closer Look

The argument over charter schools has become such a hot topic that it ran as one of the lead stories on NBC's Sunday Night With Megyn Kelly, that network's answer to the news behemoth 60 Minutes. This in-depth feature puts viewers on the ground at a high school in Philadelphia and also features an interview with education secretary and charter school advocate Betsy Devos.

While President Trump's education budget is set to hand charter schools a windfall, questions remain about the level of accountability and transparency charters are offering to the public. This well-investigated analysis from the Washington Post systematically reports on the problems charter schools are having that have been hitherto concealed from public view.

Going Head To Head On The Big Questions

Beyond questions of academic performance, there are of course other elements parents need to manage when choosing between public, charter... and privates as well. This comprehensive report pits the three types of school head to head on critical factors parents need to consider when deciding on the right academic fit for their child.

Test Your
Knowledge!

Whether a student attends a public, charter or private
school, the road always ends at the same destination: exams.

Finding a wonderful tutor is one crucial element involved in gaining the optimal advantage around exam time; and even that won't be enough if students aren't prepared to put in all the necessary study time.

But just as athletes run game drills, fighters spar and performers rehearse their shows, students can also run "game-day simulations" for their exams: by
testing themselves.

Research has shown that memory tests - testing our retention of knowledge through knowledge retrieval - not only offer the best assessment of what we know, but also enhance retention skills in the future. This phenomenon is known as
the Testing Effect.

Flash cards are the most well-known strategy for testing knowledge. Speaking out loud and talking through what we know is another excellent way to test retention. Drawing diagrams and getting creative in visually arranging the information can also generate good results.

Don't wait for test day- test your knowledge every chance you get!

Meet Matt Westerman,

Coach Profile Of The Month

This month we'd like to re-introduce you to one of the veterans of on our team, Matt Westerman. Having earned his BA in psychology from UC Santa Barbara, Matt is very familiar with many of the mental and emotional challenges that students face during finals time. Matt brings an insightful and compassionate approach to his coaching. Knowing that enthusiasm is infectious, Matt is relentlessly optimistic and encouraging when working with his students, motivating them to push themselves farther then they normally would. He understands that everyone learns differently, and enjoys discovering the best ways in which his students learn and then applying that method. Matt loves to see his students begin to believe in themselves and realize how much they're capable of.

He enjoys playing basketball with his friends in his spare time and is also a talented singer/songwriter who plays frequently in the LA area.

:

We consider it a privilege and an honor to support students and their families throughout the Los Angeles area. Please call us at any time; we welcome your thoughts and input. We are available at 310-823-4398.